Northumberland Council Tax Hardship Fund: How to Apply for Section 13A Relief

What the Hardship Fund Is

When Northumberland switched to the income-banded council tax support scheme on 1 April 2026, the council set aside a £1 million Exceptional Hardship Fund (EHF) under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The fund exists to catch working-age residents who fell through the cracks in the transition — people whose support was reduced or eliminated under the new bands despite genuine financial hardship.

This is discretionary relief. There is no automatic entitlement, and the council assesses each application individually against its own criteria.

Under the 2026/27 fund rules, applicants with more than £3,000 in capital cannot claim.

Two Eligibility Categories

Category A — Partial CTS with severe hardship: You are currently receiving council tax support under the banded scheme, but the remaining council tax you owe is causing severe financial distress. Your income after essential living expenses (rent, food, utilities, travel to work) is not enough to cover the council tax liability.

Category B — Transitional protection: You were receiving council tax support on 31 March 2026 under the old scheme but lost your entitlement completely when the banded scheme started on 1 April 2026. This category has a hard deadline: you must apply within one month of receiving the decision notice that told you your support was ending.

If you fall into Category B, the one-month window is the single most important date in the entire process. Miss it and you lose access to transitional protection regardless of your financial circumstances.

How to Apply

Applications go through the online form at nccform.northumberland.gov.uk/form/CTAXHARDSHIP. There is no paper alternative listed for this specific form, though the council's visiting officer service may help if you cannot access it online.

The form asks for a detailed breakdown of your weekly or monthly income and outgoings. This is not a rough estimate — the council expects specific figures for rent or mortgage, utilities, food, travel, childcare, debt repayments, and other essential costs.

Evidence That Strengthens Your Case

The council does not publish a fixed checklist for hardship fund evidence, but based on the scheme's assessment rules, you should prepare:

• Your council tax support decision notice showing the reduced or nil award
• Bank statements for the last two months showing your actual spending patterns
• Proof of essential outgoings: rent agreement, utility bills, travel costs
• Any evidence of exceptional circumstances: medical costs, disability-related expenses, caring responsibilities
• Proof of engagement with debt or budgeting advice if applicable

That last point matters. The scheme expects applicants to take reasonable steps to improve their situation. If the council refers you to budgeting, income-maximisation, or employment support, refusing help or not engaging can count against your case. Citizens Advice Northumberland (Adviceline: 0808 278 7944) is a free advice route.

What Happens After You Apply

The council reviews your application against its criteria. There is no statutory right to appeal an EHF decision to the Valuation Tribunal — but you can request an internal administrative review within one month of the decision.

If awarded, the EHF credit reduces your outstanding council tax liability for the 2026/27 year. It does not carry forward into future years and does not replace your ongoing council tax support claim.

Do Not Wait

If you lost entitlement in the April 2026 transition, the one-month deadline from your decision notice is the tightest window in the entire council tax support system. The Northumberland Council Tax Reduction guide includes a Section 13A budget template formatted for the EHF evidence requirements, so you can assemble your case before the deadline passes.

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